Atlanta, GA -- Jonathan Simons, MD, Director of the Winship Cancer Institute
of Emory University, announced the appointment of Ruth O’Regan, MD,
as Director of WCI’s Translational Breast Cancer Research Program and
Assistant Professor of Hematology and Onoclogy.

Dr. O’Regan comes to WCI from Northwestern University in Chicago where
she was an assistant professor of Medicine at Northwestern Hospital
specializing in breast cancer. Her areas of research include the evolution
of tamoxifen therapy in breast cancer. Dr. O’Regan is studying novel
selective estrogen receptor modulators — SERMs — an area in which she
has studied under one of the world’s leading authorities, Dr. V. Craig
Jordan at Northwestern.

For breast cancers with hormone receptors, cell growth can be activated
by estrogen. By blocking these interactions, researchers can stop or
at least slow down the growth of tumor cells. SERMs act to block the
hormone receptors to prevent growth "messages" from getting to them.

Dr. O’Regan is also examining the effects of new antiestrogens on the
growth of endometrial cancer in preclinical models and is currently
examining molecular events that may be important in explaining the effects
of tamoxifen on the endometrium.

"We are very excited that Dr. O’Regan will be joining our team here
at Emory and the Winship Cancer Institute," said Dr. Simons. "She is
a valuable addition to our translational research team as well as to
our medical staff. Her compassion and dedication to patient-centered
care combined with the excellence of her scientific research make Dr.
O’Regan the perfect person to lead our Translational Breast Cancer Research
Program."

Dr. Fadlo Khuri, Associate Director for Clinical and Translational Research
at WCI, has been familiar with Dr. O’Regan’s research for many years.
"She is one of today’s brightest stars in the rapidly expanding field
of SERMS," said Dr. Khuri. "The work she is conducting in her laboratory,
and the collaborations she has developed over the years will contribute
to a better understanding of how and why SERMs work in the prevention
and treatment of breast cancer, osteoporosis and possibly coronary artery
disease. Her study of the biology of breast cancer and the mechanics
of resistance and sensitivity to SERMs are on the cusp of clinical application,
with a strong possibility for clinically meaningful benefits to women
with breast cancer."

Dr. O’Regan is widely published in peer reviewed scientific journals,
having published articles such as "The evolution of tamoxifen therapy
in breast cancer: selective estrogen receptor modulators and down regulators"
in Lancet Oncology, and "Effects of raloxifene after tamoxifen on breast
and endometrial cancer growth," in Journal of the National Cancer Institute.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Dr. O’Regan earned her medical degree at
University College in Dublin. She conducted her residency in Internal
Medicine and a Fellowship in Oncology at Mater Hospital, also in Dublin,
before joining the faculty at Northwestern University. While at Northwestern,
she won the Compassionate Care Award from the Womens’ Board of Northwestern
Hospital as well as NSABP Young Clinical Investigator Award in 2001.

"I am thrilled to be joining the world-class team of cancer professionals
at the Winship Cancer Institute," said Dr. O’Regan. "Dr. Simons, Dr.
Khuri and others within the Emory and WCI leadership have strategically
positioned WCI in development of a first rate cancer research, treatment
and prevention program of national and international caliber. This will
build on the tremendous strengths of Emory University in basic research,
as well as the strengths of The Rollins School of Public Health, the
Hodgson School of Nursing, the Emory University School of Medicine and
its departments of surgical oncology, urology, pharmacology, biochemistry
and many others. WCI is an exciting place to be."